'NCIS' Season 8, Episode 7 Recap

One of the most popular 'NCIS' guest stars was back tonight: the suave and sophisticated Robert Wagner as Anthony DiNozzo Sr., Tony's (Michael Weatherly) con man dad. So even though this episode had murder and the fear of nuclear material being sold on the black market, there was something light and fun about the entire show.

This was the Robert Wagner of 'It Takes a Thief' and 'Switch,' not so much Jonathan Hart in 'Hart to Hart,' which was just fine because when he made a pass at Ziva (Cote de Pablo), you didn't want to think of him cheating on Jennifer. For more on Tony Sr. and how Junior handled his visit, read on.

The episode last season that introduced Tony's dad was good, especially in relation to this show. It established that Tony Sr. is a rogue who travels well and leaves others to pick up the check. He's a con artist, but knows everyone who's anyone. That explained how he just happened to appear on a private jet of a zillionaire recluse modeled after Howard Hughes.

The fact that Tony then took a cab into town with Woody Iverson, the murder victim who was meeting with Admiral Chase (Bruce Boxleitner) at Annapolis, placed Tony's pop right in the middle of the investigation.